Media Releases

The Rudd Government’s continuing failure to achieve effective national management of the Murray Darling Basin has today been highlighted by the Productivity Commission, newly appointed Coalition spokesman Senator Simon Birmingham said today. The Productivity Commission today released its Draft Report on Market Mechanisms for Recovering Water in the Murray-Darling Basin. “The Government’s…

Senator Simon Birmingham has used today’s 20th anniversary of a landmark human rights treaty to urge support for UNICEF in its ongoing work to save children’s lives. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted 20 years ago by the United Nations General Assembly and has become the most ratified human…

Senator Simon Birmingham says he is looking forward to helping achieve better outcomes for the Murray Darling Basin and stronger action on climate change, after his appointment as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary today. “The Murray Darling remains one of, if not the, most important policy challenges facing South Australia and I have pursued issues…

Water project spending figures being released today highlight some of the Rudd Government’s failures on water policy, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Water Minister Penny Wong is expected to use an address to the SA Press Club today to release figures showing more is being spent on water projects in South Australia per…

Water Minister Penny Wong has today demonstrated contempt for the Senate and for open accountability in relation to intended water savings for the Murray-Darling Basin, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Wong used a Budget Estimates hearing last week to reveal that $1 billion in promised water infrastructure funding would be withheld while…

Water Minister Penny Wong is playing politics over water management by using $1 billion in promised water infrastructure funding to help the Victorian Brumby Government get its way, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Senator Wong this week used a Budget Estimates hearing to reveal she has written to her Victorian counterpart advising the…

The Rudd Government has spent more than $520,000 sending its Whaling Envoy on a diplomatic world tour only for him to miss the key annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Senator Simon Birmingham said today Special Envoy Sandy Hollway in just 60 days of work has racked up $526,170.99 in fees,…

Senator Simon Birmingham is urging a review of anti-terrorism broadcast standards, if a further review of an Arabic TV station owned and run by anti-Semitic organisation Hezbollah finds it doesn’t break Australian law. Satellite TV station al-Manar reaches much of Australia’s east coast via a feed from Indonesia, but Jewish groups have expressed…

Australians face being slugged another backdoor tax hike, with the basic postage rate going up for the second time in just over 12 months, Senator Simon Birmingham said today. Under questioning in Senate Supplementary Budget Estimates this morning, Australia Post has revealed plans for its second 5-cent rise in basic postage rate in…

Senator Simon Birmingham is calling on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to visit Gawler while in South Australia and hear firsthand local concerns about health services there. It follows Kevin Rudd and Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s visit to Murray Bridge today, as part of national consultation surrounding the Government’s health reform plans. GPs…